Thom Mayer and the Healthcare Staffing Storm: Leading Through Crisis

Overview
In this interview-style podcast, Dr. Chris Reilly sits down with Dr. Thom Mayer, a real-life hero and EM doc, to discuss everything from his recent volunteering time in Ukraine to the NFLPA concussion protocol and the major topic of discussion: the staffing crisis in health care, particularly on the front lines in the emergency department.

TAKE-HOME POINTS

• Mayer dives into his recent experience on the front lines in Ukraine with Team Rubicon as well as his current role as Medical Director of the NFL Players Association and what it means to lead during times of uncertainty.
• The staffing crisis begins with CULTURE and ends with you as a physician encouraging a growth mindset among your staff and colleagues.
• The staffing crisis is ubiquitous throughout the United States.
• The pandemic made the staffing crisis more evident, but it has been developing for quite some time now.
• EM nurses and physicians burn out at a rate of approximately 60%.
• How do we fix this? Redesign the system in collaboration with our nursing teammates.
• Leadership is a noun, and leading is a verb in the active voice.
• Every health care team member is a leader, akin to a performance athlete involved in a cycle of performance, rest, and recovery. All three of those phases are crucial.
• What can residents do? Thank the staff you work with and ask what more you could have done to make your job easier today.
• “Ancillary” comes from the Latin word “ancilla,” which means “female servant” - so let’s change the culture of this word’s use. Change Ancillary Services to Essential Services.
• Let the record show that according to Dr. Mayer, Chris (who played baseball in college) is still an athlete.

Resources

1. CNN Live. The NFLPA’s Dr. Thom Mayer returns from Ukraine after deploying with Team Rubicon. April 2022.
2. Innovation Institute for Fan Experience. Thom Mayer, NFLPA Medical Director. March 2021.
3. NeSmith F. Battling burnout in health care with Thom Mayer, M.D., at Heersink School of Medicine Grand Rounds. March 2022.
4. Mayer T, Jensen K. Hardwiring Flow: Systems and Processes for Seamless Patient Care. 2016.
5. Mayer T, Cates RJ. Leadership for Great Customer Service: Satisfied Patients, Satisfied Employees (ACHE Management Series). 2008.